School closing decisions are made by the District Administrator through coordination with the National Weather Service, district bus company, district Building and Grounds Supervisor, and township personnel responsible for plowing the roads. If schools are closed for the day, an announcement will be made via a Skylert automatic phone call and/or email message to parents/guardians and will be posted on the home page of this website.
Snowstorms, sleet, fog, ice and below zero temperatures may cause us to cancel or delay school or send students home early. The following information provides an overview of our District’s procedures when inclement weather strikes.
How will I find out if schools are closed? If school will be delayed or closed for the day, all families who have set up their Skyward Family Access accounts to receive an automatic phone call, SMS, and/or email message via Skylert will be notified as such. This is typically done before 6:15am, giving students who board the bus enough notice to stay home. The information will also be prominently posted on our district website and sent to local television stations and radio stations for announcement.
How does the District make the decision to close schools? The District works with local meteorologists when the weather forecast calls for snow, sleet, hazardous conditions due to blowing and drifting, and temperatures/wind chills below zero. Consideration is also given to the multiple municipality and county snowplows that are responsible for clearing the roads throughout the District. Deerfield has students residing in five municipalities (Village of Deerfield, Town of Deerfield, Town of Cottage Grove, Town of Pleasant Springs and Town of Christiana).
When are schools closed for frigid temperatures? Typically schools are closed when actual air temperatures are 25 degrees below zero, or wind-chill factors of 35 degrees below zero. Exceptions may be made based on temperatures in the township areas of the District.
Is the school ever delayed? Under some circumstances, a one or two-hour delay in the starting time may be considered due to inclement weather conditions. Families will receive a phone call and/or email from Skylert if the school is delayed. This information will also be posted on this website and shared with local TV stations and radio stations for public announcement.
If school is delayed what happens to students in Early Childhood and 4 Yr. Kindergarten? If there is a one or two-hour delay, there will not be morning early childhood or morning 4K classes.
Are students ever released early? If conditions change rapidly, students may need to be released early. The decision to call an early dismissal will be made as early in the day as possible to try to avoid conflicts with afternoon early childhood and afternoon 4K classes. If students will be released early, families will receive a phone call and/or email via Skylert notifying them of the plan. This information will also be posted on this website and shared with the TV stations and radio stations for public announcement.
What if the dismissal is near the lunch hour? If early dismissal occurs during the day, we will make every effort to provide lunch for students prior to dismissal.
Are all events canceled if schools are closed? Typically all evening activities including co-curricular, afterschool day care programs and concerts would be canceled. Exceptions may be made based on changes in weather patterns.
How do I find out if evening activities are canceled? If evening activities are canceled, schools may send a phone call and/or email via Skylert or post the cancelation on this website.
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